Social networks make us feel more connected, survey says

Being online is making Americans feel more connected but they're actually seeing friends face-to-face less often.

That's according to a Harris Poll, which also showed that 58 per cent of those surveyed said they know what's going on with their friends and acquaintances, but don't interact with them personally. And 54 per cent said they have less actual contact with their friends than ever before.

So, if people are more connected how does that making them feel?

Well, 31 per cent say they feel more lonely than before.

"It's getting harder to remember a time when people didn't "friend" or "follow" someone and have that mean electronically, not in person," the report noted. "And, on the whole, social media users seem to be the better for it, connecting with friends and old classmates that they probably wouldn't have gotten in touch with before social networks. Then, there is the argument that connecting online could actually harm relationships and make people feel more isolated."

It's no surprise that the Harris Poll found that people are increasingly catching up with friends online.

The recent Harris Poll, which surveyed 2,258 adults online between Sept. 1 and Sept. 3, noted that young users -- between 18 and 34 -- are connecting more online than their older counterparts. However, those younger users also are reporting less face-to-face encounters with friends.

It's a different story when it comes to connecting with people you work with. According to the poll, only 19 per cent of people say they feel very connected or connected through social media to business associates.

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